What a wretched contrast to the start of the garden retail season in 2011 this season's opening has proved to be. This time last year, industry stalwarts such as Peter Seabrook were hailing the best ever spring for retail sales for 50 years.
After the nightmare that the hosepipe bans of 2006 unleashed on parts of the garden sector, the news that drip-watering systems are to be exempted at three of the seven water companies that have announced similar bans this week, is very welcome indeed.
Six or seven years ago, no garden retail conference would be complete without the presentation of the latest market-share trends data with the threat to the independent garden centre sector from the sheds highlighted prominently.
In our industry preview for 2012, Willerby Landscapes' John Melmoe concurs with colleagues across many sectors of horticulture that next year will prove a difficult one, whether in the private, commercial or public arenas.
HW's business management writer Leslie Kossoff this week urges horticulture's business owners and managers to take a long hard look outside the industry to understand the trends and fashions that are influencing their customers.
Over the coming week professionals from across horticulture will be preparing to attend two of the industry's biggest trade shows - IoG Saltex and Four Oaks.
Last Friday's TV viewing figures for gardening programmes have proved what the garden industry has known very well for a number of years now - that there is a huge appetite for gardening on TV.
The Power 100 in garden centres has become an annual event for Garden Retail. This year there are plenty of movers and more than 20 new entries.
Talking to growers and retailers at Chelsea this week, all are looking forward to the second wind the garden industry will get from the show, which following an outstanding Easter and early May bank holiday period could add up to yet more sales records broken this year.
Writing in the next issue of HW sister magazine Garden Retail, industry stalwart and Sun gardening editor Peter Seabrook says he hasn't seen spring sales like those we have just experienced in 50 years of garden retailing.
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